The kidneys are our main filtration organ which should be protected at all cost. The main symptoms of kidney damage are changes in the color or quantity of urine, breathing problems, nausea, anemia, fatigue, bad breath, feeling cold and itchy skin.
Kidney damage and disease are often caused by some habits which we do every day. Here are 10 of them:
- Insufficient water intake
Not drinking the recommend amount of water (10-12 glasses per day) can significantly damage your kidneys. This will impair normal kidney function and let toxins accumulate in the body, resulting in several serious diseases.
- Delaying the urge to urinate
Delaying urination is a frequent practice for many people in the world. It causes urine to remain in the bladder, allowing bacteria to multiply and leading to urinary tract infections and kidney damage over time.
- Drinking excess amounts of alcohol
Alcohol acts as a toxin to the kidneys and can severely harm their function, which is why you need to stick to the recommended amount of 1 drink for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
- Regular use of analgesics
Regular use of painkillers and analgesics can damage many organs in the body, including the kidneys. Studies have shown that these pills decrease the blood flow to the kidneys and can cause interstitial hepatitis. People with decreased kidney function should consult a doctor before taking over-the-counter drugs, and should limit their amount.
Smoking is bad for the whole body, but especially for the kidneys and lungs. The American Association of Kidney Patients lists it as the number one cause of end stage renal disease. The habit increases the heart rate and blood pressure and causes cardiovascular and kidney disease.
Although our busy schedules leave us no proper time for sleeping, lack of sleep prevents the regeneration of tissues and causes kidney damage over time.
Our kidneys metabolize 95% of the sodium we consume, so excess levels of sodium can overwork them, which will result in kidney damage.
Eating too much red or processed meat will significantly increase the risk of kidney disease. The kidneys are responsible for metabolizing and eliminating nitrogenous waste from the body, a by-product of protein digestion. High protein intake raises the glomerular pressure and hyper filtration, increasing the metabolic load of the kidneys and the risk of kidney disease.
- Excess amounts of caffeine
Everyone loves coffee, but excessive amounts of caffeine can damage the kidneys and increase the excretion of calcium in the urine, causing kidney stones as well.
- Ignoring common infections
People with kidney problems don’t consider previous infections as something important and miss reporting it, but not treating them on time may damage your kidneys beyond repair.
Source : educationofsoul.com
